Bethany
Al Maghtas (Arabic: المغطس), meaning "baptism", or "immersion" in Arabic, is historic place in Jordan on the east bank of the Jordan River. It is an archaeological site identified by the majority of scholars and religious institutions as the site of Jesus of Nazareth's baptism by Saint John the Baptist .[1][2][3][4][5] The site corresponds to the directions given in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22 and John 1:28.
John 1:28: These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.[6]
In 1994, UNESCO sponsored archaeological excavations in the area.[3] Pope John Paul II visited the site in March 2000 and Pope Benedict XVI visited in May 2009. In 2007, a documentary film entitled The Baptism of Jesus Christ - Uncovering Bethany Beyond the Jordan was made about it.[7][8][8] Pope Francis visited the site in 2014 and Vladimir Putin inaugurated a guesthouse for pilgrims at the baptism site in 2012.[8]
John 1:28: These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.[6]
In 1994, UNESCO sponsored archaeological excavations in the area.[3] Pope John Paul II visited the site in March 2000 and Pope Benedict XVI visited in May 2009. In 2007, a documentary film entitled The Baptism of Jesus Christ - Uncovering Bethany Beyond the Jordan was made about it.[7][8][8] Pope Francis visited the site in 2014 and Vladimir Putin inaugurated a guesthouse for pilgrims at the baptism site in 2012.[8]
 1 |
 2 |
 3 |
 4 |
 5 |
 6 |
 7 |
 8 |
 9 |
 10 I don't know why we were surprised about the landscape, but once again we were. We had always imagined that the Jordan River was some kind of a lush oasis - but it isn't. As you can see from the following photos the landscape is as arid as anywhere in this place, and the Jordan River itself is, in most places, not much more than an irragation ditch it seems. There are a couple of spots where it actually looks like a river, and this is where people on both sides of the river come to re-enact the baptism. The border between Jordan and Israel runs down the middle of the river. |
 11 |
 12 |
 13 |
 14 |
 15 |
 16 Strange, I know - but every Christian religion seems to have their own church building here - why they could not share a common place - who knows. |
 17 |
 18 |
 19 |
 20 |
 21 |
 22 |
 23 |
 24 |
 25 It seems that there is sufficient archaeological evidence to lend some weight to the claim that this was the actual spot of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Certainly it seems that people in this area have regarded the spot as such for more than 2000 years. |
 26 |
 27 |
 28 |
 29 |
 30 |
 31 |
 32 |
 33 |
 34 |
 35 |
 36 |
 37 |
 38 |
 39 |
 40 |
 41 A view across the river to the Israel side. At this point the river is only about 20 metres wide. Strangely enough, none of the people on that side gave any greetings to us who were on the Jordanian side. |
 42 |
 43 |
 44 |
 45 |
 46 |
 47 |
 48 |
 49 |
 50 |
 51 |
 52 |
 53 |
 54 |
 55 |